Are my tastes changing? I am beginning to prefer Luxman over Yamaha

[Steven Holt]

This is an interesting discussion, and what it tells about us is just as interesting.

I want to congratulate you on owning some splended gear, I'm more than a little envious. That said, I will wager a princely sum that, when compared in a level matched ABX test between your Yamaha and Luxman and my Topping PA3s, that you will not be able to hear one whit of difference in SQ. That's right : no difference. Why? Because in each case, the goal of 'straight wire with gain' has been achieved. And that's all a good amp is : a straight wire with gain.

But let's leave the Audio world, and venture into the Watch world. Take Rolex. Now, I don't know any man who would not want a Rolex. The craftsmanship, the precision, the detail, the sheer beauty...it's non - pareil. But honestly -- does it keep better time than a Timex, or a Casio? I think not. As good as Yamaha and Luxman are (and they are wonderful), they are no better at sound amplification than my Topping. Again, the 'straight wire with gain' goal has been achieved by all three.

I would request of you, don't be drawn in by hype. And remember your Shakespeare : 'What's in a name? What we call a rose would by any other name smell as sweet'.

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about this at all. Enjoy those great amps, thank God that you have the means for them, and most of all -- ENJOY THE MUSIC!!

 

[dman777]

So, if I was to buy a MacIntosh MA12000 integrated amp with it's hybrid tube design, would I be able to tell the difference between that my Yamaha or Luxman 595?

 

[dualazmak]

So, if I was to buy a MacIntosh MA12000 integrated amp with it's hybrid tube design, would I be able to tell the difference between that my Yamaha or Luxman 595?

You would please just seriously consider again my suggestion given in above post #50, before going into your possible purchase of new amplifier(s).

You can easily test/simulate the great pros/merits of multichannel approach by using your PC (or Mac), DSP software such as EKIO, and one stereo DAC to feed all the cross-overed channels into your YAMAHA or LUXMAN amplifier driving your nice passive Focal Sopra N1 speakers. You can easily test/simulate flexible tone control as well as quasi-time-alignment among the SP drivers. I even assume this approach will give more than enough present "solutions" to you to continue using YAMAHA or LUXMAN.

I do believe this approach will give you the positive and flexible improvements of really "the scales fall from your wide opened eyes", in very much affordable way (or no additional cost at all.)

 

[dman777]

Thank you for the suggestion but I hate DSP. I don't even use room correction on my Yamaha because I hate software DSP.

 

[dualazmak]

It is totally up to you, of course.
BTW, I have just found and read @Galliardist's comment (dated Oct 30, 2023) to you on your another thread.

 

[JeffS7444]

So, if I was to buy a MacIntosh MA12000 integrated amp with it's hybrid tube design, would I be able to tell the difference between that my Yamaha or Luxman 595?

Very possibly, if you are able to utilize the Mac's 8-band equalizer to approximate the Harman target room response. But it's a super-expensive way to go about it, and there are no promises that it will work as effectively as even entry-level DSP.

 

[Tell]

Thank you for the suggestion but I hate DSP. I don't even use room correction on my Yamaha because I hate software DSP.

Why hate one of the the most powerful tool in audio, the tool that can give you indefinitely better sound quality compared to any amplifier change?

 

[Purité Audio]

It’s purely indoctrination, DSP bad but a heavily distorting SET amp good.
Keith

 

[mhardy6647]

Now, I don't know any man who would not want a Rolex.

I doubt that any person who owns, say, a Philippe Patek is itchin' to replace it with a Rolex.

 

[Steven Holt]

I doubt that any person who owns, say, a Philippe Patek is itchin' to replace it with a Rolex.

LOL!! Good point and thank you!

 

[Bob from Florida]

It’s purely indoctrination, DSP bad but a heavily distorting SET amp good.
Keith

As a side note on DSP. In modern guitar amps, the DSP is failure prone and the OEM may not have parts for older units. Not using a surge suppressor and leaving something on during a thunderstorm plus sensitivity to surges are not a good combination.

 

[MaxBuck]

Jeepers, yet another discussion involving people imagining things that aren't true.

 

[dman777]

Here is a question for everyone that feels integrated amps (of the same class) are indistinguishable from one another... When you eat pepperoni pizza from various restaurants, do you feel they all taste the same?

 

[staticV3]

Here is a question for everyone that feels integrated amps (of the same class) are indistinguishable from one another... When you eat pepperoni pizza from various restaurants, do you feel they all taste the same?

 

[BDWoody]

Here is a question for everyone that feels integrated amps (of the same class) are indistinguishable from one another... When you eat pepperoni pizza from various restaurants, do you feel they all taste the same?

You seem determined to miss the point, so rather than prolong the agony we'll just close it here.

We've already got plenty of threads covering this ground.